THE SECRET OF RED GATE FARM - INSCRIBED

New York: Grosset & Dunlap, [1954]. Mid-1950's edition of the sixth Nancy Drew mystery. Mildred Augustine Wirt Benson (1905-2002) wrote the earliest Nancy Drew and Dana Girls mysteries under the penname Carolyn Keene for the Stratemeyer Syndicate between 1929-1947. The year before her death, she was given a Special Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America for her contributions to the Nancy Drew series. Uncommon signed, particularly in an early hand. Farah 1954A-51. Item #3690

Reprint. Octavo (19.25cm); denim blue paper-covered boards, with titling and decorations stamped in navy blue on spine and front cover; blue-gray topstain; "Digger" endpapers; iv,208,[8]pp. Inscribed by the author in an early hand on the title page: "Mildred Wirt Benson / aka Carolyn Keene / author of Nancy Drew Mystery Series." Gentle sunning to spine, light wear to spine ends and board edges, with a faint stain to upper margin of two pages; Very Good+, lacking the dustjacket.